[TenTec] Ten Tec reflector

[Steve N4LQ]

"At least with a software defined  radio you download newer software, not
purchase  a new radio and lose your shirt on the old one"

Now Skip I would think you would know better than this. The changes to the 
756 were mostly hardware, not firmware. No amount of downloading would 
change the LCD from monochrome (756) to color (pro), nor would downloading 
replace a large portion of the RF chain with a DSP system (PRO) and even the 
changes from the PRO to the PROII were mostly hardware related. If Icom did 
anything wrong, it was to not change the model number and looks of the rig 
more to make people think they were getting something entirely new. I don't 
really understand why the Orion is considered a "Software Defined Radio" 
simply because changes can be made to the firmware. My car allows firmware 
changes to the computer. Is it a "software defined car"? I changed the 
firmware in my Omni 6+. Does that make it a software defined radio? Can the 
software make the Orion something other than a radio? Perhaps a toaster or 
vacuum cleaner? Now that might constitute "software defined". Obviously 
software does play a greater role in everything these days but at what point 
do we render the hardware inconsequential and elevate the software to the 
title of Definer? I don't think we are quiet there yet. Maybe the Flex Radio 
comes closer. www.flex-radio.com
So someday and probably not too far into the future, TenTec will make major 
hardware changes to the Orion so that the software my better define it. 
Watch for processor upgrades, LCD panel changes and memory enhancements. 
Then you'll have the equivalent of the PRO, PROII, PROII.
Steve N4LQ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "skip" <k3cc at fast.net>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 8:59 PM
Subject: [TenTec] Ten Tec reflector


> As I'm new to this reflector and new to the Orion I thought that I could
> gleam helpful info from this reflector.
>
> I have tried to be constructive in my impressions of the Orion and my 
> short
> use of same.
>
> I am very sorry to read the bashing of the radio, the most useful info I 
> got
> was to go to the source, Ten Tec.  I did , and I am pleased with the
> results.
>
> Just think Icom is on its fourth version of the 756/pro/proII/proIII
>
> At least with a software defined  radio you download newer software, not
> purchase  a new radio and lose your shirt on the old one.
>
> Tnx fer the help,   de Skip     K3CC
>
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